Clinical neuropharmacology
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEfficacy and safety of botulinum neurotoxin NT 201 in poststroke upper limb spasticity.
To assess the impact of the new botulinum neurotoxin type A preparation NT 201 (Xeomin; Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany) on muscle tone, functional disability, and caregiver burden in patients with poststroke upper limb spasticity in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. ⋯ NT 201 led to statistically significant improvements in muscle tone and disability and was well tolerated in patients with poststroke upper limb spasticity.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPsychopathological and cognitive effects of therapeutic cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis: a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study.
To study possible psychopathological symptoms and cognitive deficits, abuse induction, as well as general tolerability and effects on quality of life, fatigue and motor function in cannabis-naïve patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with a free-dose cannabis plant extract (Sativex). ⋯ Cannabinoid treatment did not induce psychopathology and did not impair cognition in cannabis-naïve patients with MS. However, the positive correlation between blood levels of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and psychopathological scores suggests that at dosages higher than those used in therapeutic settings, interpersonal sensitivity, aggressiveness, and paranoiac features might arise, although greater statistical power would be necessary to confirm this finding.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialAcetyl-L-carnitine in the management of pain during methadone withdrawal syndrome.
This study was designed to determine the short-term effect of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) on symptoms of withdrawal in opiate-dependent subjects and animals and, in particular, on pain, given the efficacy of ALC in other typologies of pain. The study consists of 2 branches: a clinical study and a preclinical one, both with a randomized placebo-controlled design. ⋯ Acetyl-L-carnitine acted as an effective antihyperalgesic agent for relieving opiate-withdrawal hyperalgesia in animals and displayed clinical efficacy on other withdrawal symptoms such as muscular tension, muscular cramps, and insomnia. Considering its tolerability, the excellent side effect profile, the absence of significant interactions, and the lack of abuse potential, ALC can be considered as a useful pharmacological adjunct in the treatment of opiate withdrawal.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPatient- and physician-rated measures demonstrate the effectiveness of ropinirole in the treatment of restless legs syndrome.
To investigate the effect of twice-daily ropinirole in patients with early evening restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms, particularly focusing on the relationship of patient- and physician-rated assessment of treatment outcomes. ⋯ Ropinirole is associated with consistent early and sustained improvements in the symptoms of RLS, as rated by patients and physicians.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Sep 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialTopiramate and triptans revert chronic migraine with medication overuse to episodic migraine.
This is a randomized, double-blind versus placebo study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of topiramate (TPM) in reducing the number of days with headache and the amount of acute medication taken monthly in patients with chronic migraine with medication overuse. We also studied the efficacy of single triptans available in Italy in interrupting headache crises during preventive treatment. ⋯ Topiramate proved to be well tolerated and effective in reverting chronic migraine with medication overuse to episodic migraine.